Clothespin



Dec. 1, 1942- J. E. SPRAGUE CLOTHESPIN Filed Nov. 26, 1940 I I6 15 A5 [0 \IO Is 23 i5 CBEUEH IS in MIL/ENT R JUN/E ETTA EFRHEUE 3 7 ATTURWE Patented Detail, 1942 UNITED STATES ctomsrm Junie Etta Sprague, Los

This invention relates generally to fastening.

I eles, Calif. Application November 26, 1940, Serial No. 367,181

. 2 Claims. (01. 24-131) vided with a hole Ii by meansof which the 5m may be suspended from a hook l'l.

Referring to the spring element itself, this is preferably in the form of a U shaped flat sprin I8 having the rounded closed end I 9 and the channel shaped open ends 20 which fit into corresponding slots in the members l0. While the manner of attaching the'straight sides 2| of the spring l8 to the members I8 is of lesser importance, it is desirable to do so in the manner indicated as it lends itself to the production of the device from molded plastic'material.

of the class described in a manner to adapt itself to the use of plastic materials and in which the amount of material employed is reduced to a minimum.

The fourth object is to construct a clothespin.

of the class described employing a fiat wire spring which is assembled with the clamping members by a lateral movement of the spring, that'is in parallelism with the hinge axis of the clothespin.

The fifth object is to construct a clothespin in a manner that it will not become stained or dis colored in use and that it will not impart such stains to the garments being supported thereby. The sixth object is to construct a clothespin in which the line cannot become fouled with the ring.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the which: v v

Fig.1! is a side elevation of the device showing the supporting line and the supported fabric in cross section.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a pair of elongated arms 10 having the semicircular openings ll formed near the jaw end l2 and also having the smaller grooves I3 accompanying drawing, in

formed between the opening II and the central It must be understood that while in Fig. l,

I have shown the fabric as being held only between the jaws I! while the spring end l8 engages the clothesline 23, in actual practite the fabric 22 would occupy the openings II in. the

same manner that devices-of this kind are now the placing of the clothespin on a garment which ,is supported on the clothesline.

The use of the clothespin is so well understood that it will not be repeated here, the present invention beingdirected toward the production of a clothespin having the advantage of the well known devices bf this type without g their disadvantages. I

precise form of the spring end'is unimportant.

While I have-suggested the desirability of plastic material in the making of these pins, it must be understood that if plastic is used it must be of a type that will withstand a considerable amount of heat in order to avoid the distortion thereof in warm climates. A popular material for making these devices is one of the semihard tough woods such as birch. :ji'

While I have thus illustrated and described my invention, it is not my intention to be limited by this precise form shown therein but I intend to cover all such forms and modifications of my inventionas fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A' clothespin of ing of a pair of elongated arms of plastic material converging at one end to form a pair of clothes engaging jaws, and diverging at the opposite end to form operating handles, a, U shaped spring of flat wire disposed between said arms having the open ends of said spring'outwardly the class described consistmid-fie of their length, one pair of arm ends con- 10 stituting handles and the other pair of arm ends constituting clothes engaging jaws, a U shaped spring of flat wire having its closed end disposed between the handle members and its open end backwardly turned and imbedded in the clothes engaging end of the arms, the sides of said spring being outwardly turned and forming fulcrum points for the thick portions 01' said arms.

JUNIE ETTA SPRAGUE. 

